Apex court accepts govt proposal to extend the food security concept to even those living above the poverty line
Liz Mathew , liz.m@livemint.com
Liz Mathew , liz.m@livemint.com
In a fresh validation of the political campaign led by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, the Supreme Court on Thursday endorsed the concept of food security and accepted the Union government’s proposal to conditionally extend it to even those living above the poverty line (APL).
The apex court, which on 27 June suggested that the APL population should be kept out of the purview of the Public Distribution System (PDS), recommended short-term measures to liquidate surplus foodstock by distributing it to the poor “at a very low cost or no cost”.
It also agreed with the government’s argument that the foodgrains left over after meeting the total allocation of the population in the categories of Antyodaya Anna Yojana and below poverty line (BPL) could be allocated to those in APL category. “That is precisely what the court had in mind when the previous order was passed.” the court said in its Thursday order.
The Supreme Court bench comprising justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma, based on the findings of the justice D.P. Wadhwa committee on PDS, asked the government to expedite the “computerization” of the entire PDS, right “from the godowns of the Food Corporation of India (FDI) to the ultimate beneficiary to ensure greater transparency”.
“We request the Union of India to expedite the whole process and submit a comprehensive report to this court as early as possible and any even within six weeks from today. The Union of India may take the help and assistance of any organization or agency which it may deem appropriate,” the court said, adding that there should be a common software for all the states.
The court had earlier suggested that the government could take the help of agencies such as Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for computerization. In its affidavit, the Union government has told the court that the department of food and public distribution has taken up several initiatives for computerization of PDS.
Mint on Thursday reported that the government has created a committee to prepare a road map for the computerization of PDS and link it both to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and UIDAI.
In its affidavit, the government said that the task force set up on 9 August and headed by director general, National Infomatics Centre will have representatives from the department of Information Technology, and UIDAI and department of food and public distribution, FCI and food secretaries of selected states as members for working out the modalities for integration of the existing projects and to “suggest as to how UIDAI will be eventually leveraged.”
The Supreme Court asked the Union government to ensure food security and to take steps to ensure secure storage and preservation of the foodgrains. It said: “Permanent solution lies in constructing adequate storage facilities. The Union of India may consider constructing at least one large Food Corporation of India godown in every state and consider the possibility of construction of one godown in every division if not in every district of the state.”
Urging the government to take short term measures the bench said there should be an increase in the quantum of food supply to the BPL population, keep the fair price shops in the country for all the 30 days in a month and distribute foodgrains to the deserving population at a very low cost or no cost.”
The apex court will hear the matter further on 31 August.
The Hunger Project is a joint effort of Mint and the Hindustan Times to track, investigate and report every aspect of the struggle to rid India of hunger. If you have any suggestions, write to us at thehungerproject@livemint.com
The apex court, which on 27 June suggested that the APL population should be kept out of the purview of the Public Distribution System (PDS), recommended short-term measures to liquidate surplus foodstock by distributing it to the poor “at a very low cost or no cost”.
It also agreed with the government’s argument that the foodgrains left over after meeting the total allocation of the population in the categories of Antyodaya Anna Yojana and below poverty line (BPL) could be allocated to those in APL category. “That is precisely what the court had in mind when the previous order was passed.” the court said in its Thursday order.
The Supreme Court bench comprising justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma, based on the findings of the justice D.P. Wadhwa committee on PDS, asked the government to expedite the “computerization” of the entire PDS, right “from the godowns of the Food Corporation of India (FDI) to the ultimate beneficiary to ensure greater transparency”.
“We request the Union of India to expedite the whole process and submit a comprehensive report to this court as early as possible and any even within six weeks from today. The Union of India may take the help and assistance of any organization or agency which it may deem appropriate,” the court said, adding that there should be a common software for all the states.
The court had earlier suggested that the government could take the help of agencies such as Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for computerization. In its affidavit, the Union government has told the court that the department of food and public distribution has taken up several initiatives for computerization of PDS.
Mint on Thursday reported that the government has created a committee to prepare a road map for the computerization of PDS and link it both to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and UIDAI.
In its affidavit, the government said that the task force set up on 9 August and headed by director general, National Infomatics Centre will have representatives from the department of Information Technology, and UIDAI and department of food and public distribution, FCI and food secretaries of selected states as members for working out the modalities for integration of the existing projects and to “suggest as to how UIDAI will be eventually leveraged.”
The Supreme Court asked the Union government to ensure food security and to take steps to ensure secure storage and preservation of the foodgrains. It said: “Permanent solution lies in constructing adequate storage facilities. The Union of India may consider constructing at least one large Food Corporation of India godown in every state and consider the possibility of construction of one godown in every division if not in every district of the state.”
Urging the government to take short term measures the bench said there should be an increase in the quantum of food supply to the BPL population, keep the fair price shops in the country for all the 30 days in a month and distribute foodgrains to the deserving population at a very low cost or no cost.”
The apex court will hear the matter further on 31 August.
The Hunger Project is a joint effort of Mint and the Hindustan Times to track, investigate and report every aspect of the struggle to rid India of hunger. If you have any suggestions, write to us at thehungerproject@livemint.com
